Slow Steaming Brings Fuels, Lubes into Spotlight
As shipping companies increasingly employ slow steaming to help reduce costs and control emissions, the process and challenge of procuring marine lubricants has taken on greater complexity and significance, according to Total Lubmarine. The North American Emissions Control Area (ECA), effective from 2012, will impact 50% of maritime traffic, forcing ship owners and operators not typically operating in ECA’s to begin use of lower basicity cylinder lubricants required for lower sulfur fuels. This increasing trend is likely to pose challenges for ship owners and operators when leaving ECA’s, as lower base number (BN) lubricants are not best suited to operation with higher sulfur fuels permissible for use outside ECA boundaries.
Lubmarine Biodegradable Range for Shipping
International marine lubricants supplier Total Lubmarine has developed a range of biodegradable products which will enable companies in the shipping industry to improve their environmental footprint without compromising performance or safety. Total Lubmarine is now offers: Carter Bio, a high-gear performance lubricant; Biohydran TMP, a hydraulic lubricant; and Biomultis SEP 2, an extreme-pressure multipurpose grease. Patrick Havil, Marketing Manager of Lubmarine, said, “It is simply not possible to guarantee a zero-risk of spillage with regard to onboard operations. The potential for lubricant leakage on board ship is high. It exists across so many traditional shipping-related activities involving everything from engine operation to thruster and stern-tube performance…
